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Paredes starts at third for ailing Dominguez

5/21/13: Jimmy Paredes hammers a three-run homer to right field, putting the Astros on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning

By Brian McTaggart and Chris Abshire
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MLB.com |

HOUSTON -- With starter Matt Dominguez nursing a sore left quadriceps muscle, Jimmy Paredes was in the lineup at third base in Wednesday's series finale against the Royals. It's the first time this season he's played third in the Major Leagues after starting 11 of the previous 14 games in right field.

Paredes played 20 games at third base, nine in right field and two at designed hitter for Triple-A Oklahoma City before being recalled.

"I played third in Triple-A a lot of games this year, but they sent me down and said, 'You go to Oklahoma City and you are starting to play third again,' so I played a lot of games at third base," Paredes said. "I like being in the lineup, and when I see my name in the lineup, it makes me feel good because they want to see me there."

Paredes, who hit a three-run homer Tuesday, made 44 starts at third base when he made his Major League debut in 2011 and was moved to second base in 2012 and eventually to the outfield. Paredes remains raw on defense, but manager Bo Porter is confident in his abilities.

"During Spring Training, he took ground balls and did infield stuff during Spring Training and played third base and right field in Oklahoma City," he said. "He came up as an infielder, and it's something we're completely familiar with."

Dominguez went 4-for-8 in the first two games in the Royals series after a 1-for-22 road trip. He injured his quad about two weeks ago while in the batting cage and has been getting treatment, but it shouldn't keep him out long term.

"I'd like to play, but they talked to me, and it's better to take the two days off now [Astros are off Thursday] than risk missing weeks for something that could be treated pretty easily," he said.